The Path of Daggers (Book Eight, The Wheel of Time)

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, has taken the city of Illian and has slain the Forsaken Sammael in single combat in the ruins of Shadar Logoth (actually, it was the evil "spirit" Mashadar who killed him . . . it's a long story). Now, a new threat has arisen to the west. The Seanchan, who Rand defeated at Falme in book two, have returned and have taken Ebou Dar, leaving Mat's fate uncertain. Faced with this old enemy, Rand must defeat the Seanchan before they overrun the Westlands in its entirety. Having fled Ebou Dar, Elayne, Aviendha, Birgitte, Nynaeve, and the Kin (a group of female channelers living in Ebou Dar who were rejected from the White Tower) now have the Bowl of the Winds in their possession. However, with the Seanchan in pursuit they must figure out a way to escape with their lives, or end up as damane (the Seanchan leash female channelers and call them damane). At the rebel Tower in Salidar, Egwene al'Vere, the Amyrlin Seat, must make a dangerous decision. Will she stay in Altara, never to seize the White Tower from the hands of the usurper Elaida, or will she march on the false Amyrlin, and risk death, to take what is rightfully hers?

I found The Path of Daggers to be a fitting eighth installment in the Wheel of Time series. Although the shortest WoT book at 685 pages, it is filled to the brim with action and the Seanchan. My only reaction to their sudden appearance was, "They're @*$^%&# everywhere!". The only disappointing part of this novel was the absolute lack of Mat. After a building fell on him in book seven (yes, a building) he is only mentioned in The Path of Daggers.